Valve



May 15, 1951 E. P. JORDAN 2,553,458

VALVE Filed Nov. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. P. JORDAN .May 15, 1951VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NcSv. 14, 1945 Qwuc whom Patented May 15,T951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,553,458 VALVE Eugene P. Jordan, LosAngeles, Calif.

Application November 14, 1945, Serial No. 628,431

11'Claims. (Cl. 251--76) This invention relates to a valve and moreparticularly pertains to a valve of the type which embodies a pistonvalve including a plurality of valve elements carried on a single stemand mounted for reciprocal movement in a ported valve housing andoperable by various positions of the stem and valve element assembly tocontrol the directional flow of fluid through the Valve.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve of the above characterwhich is particularly applicable for use in water softening apparatusconnected in a water supply line, in which the flow of water through thesoftening apparatus during the water softening action is in onedirection, and during a regenerating operation the water is first flowedthrough'the apparatus in a reverse direction to effect a flushing actionand then prevented from going through the water softener to permitregenerating of the water softening element, and finally the flow ofwater is directed through the apparatus and to' waste in flushing outthe regenerating substance.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a valve for thepurpose above specified, or any other purpose where similar operationare required, in which positioning of the valve elements in theirvarious operative positions may be readily efiected in consecutive orderfrom a single operating element.

Another object is to provide a water softener valve which is capable ofbeing progressively disposed in four positions, namely from a first orwater softening position to a second or back washing position, then to athird or combined cut out and open to waste position and finally to afourth or flushing position, and then be returned progressively from thefourth position back to the first position.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in the valve whereby it willmomentarily open to Waste when moving into a position in which waterstarts to flow into the softener tank either from above or below thewater treating element therein so as to prevent impact of hydrostaticpressure on the body of material constituting the water softeningelement.

Another object is to provide a construction and assemblage whereby thevalve housing with its various ports and passages and associated valveseat may be readily formed in a unitary structure so as to facilitateand economize construction of the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of inletand outlet passages in the valve housing which will permit readyconnection of conduits therewith and whereby application of the valve inthe system controlled thereby may be easily effected.

Another object is to provide an arrangement in the passages through thevalve housing whereby a communication will be maintained through thehousing between a source of liquid supply and a service lineirrespective of positioning of the valve piston.

Another object is to provide the valve housing with a by-p ass passagetogether with an adjustable means for regulating the flow of fluidthrough the passage.

Another object is to provide a construction in a valve piston whereby aminimum of resistance to movement of the latter by reason of frictionalcontact between the valve piston and its housing will be minimized.

Another object is to provide a construction in a valve element and itsassociated seat whereby the element may be passed through the passagebounded by the seat and operated to effect opening and closing of thepassage from either end thereof.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in theparts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View in vertical section, partly in elevation, of the valvestructure;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail in cross section of a valve element showing it in aseated position;

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation illustrating the valve as applied to thetank of a water softening apparatus; and

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are diagrams depicting the mode of operation ofthe valve; and showing it in its several consecutive operativepositions.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, A indicates generally thevalve housing which is tubular and embodies an elongated bore [4 formedwith a series of alternating differential diameters here shown ascomprising enlarged chambers a, b, c, d, e, and f with reduced portionsg, h, i, 9 and 7c constituting valve seats arranged respectively betweenthe chambers a and b, b and c, c and d, d and e, and e and f. The borel4 thus comprises end chambers a and f with a series of intermediatechambers b, c, d and c with a valve seat between adjacent chambers. Thewall surfaces forming the juncture between the several chambers and thevalve seats are rounded as indicated at Z and as particularly shown inFig. '7 thus forming each of the valve seats with an outwardly roundedmargin on" each side thereof.

While the valve housing may be disposed in any suitable position wheninstalled, for the'c'o'n venience of description it will be referred toas disposed in the vertical upright position depicted in the drawings,that is, with the portion of the housing encompassing the chamber auppermost. The valve housing is formed with passages leading to theexterior thereof from the intermediate chambers b, c, d and e and fromthe upper end chamber a, and the end chambers are in open communicationwith each other through a by-pass passage, which passages may bedisposed and may lead in any suitable direction as occasion may require,but a particular arrangement of which will be set forth herein.

Extending laterally from the chamber a above the valve seat a is adischarge to waste passage l5 leading through a boss is with which adrain pipe I? is connectable as by a screw engagement. Chamber b openslaterally to a passage l8 have shown as leading upwardly and encompassedby a wall 69 leading through the passage l5 with the passage l8 openingthrough the upper face of the boss 56 and adapted to receive a pipe 26leading to the upper end portion of the tank B of a water softeningapparatus, or other suitable structure. The passage 15 extends aroundthe wall it as partciularly shown in Fig; 2.

The chamber opens laterally to a passage 2| opening through a boss 22 towhich is connected as by screw connection a water feed pipe 23 leadingfrom any suitable source of water supply,

such as a city main. The chamber d connects between the valve seats 2and j with apassage 24 opening through a boss 25 to which a service pipe26 may be connected as by a threaded joint and led to any point ofdischarge. The chamber e connects between the valve seats 7 and k with apassage 2? which opens downwardly through a boss 28 with which isconnected a pipe 29 leading to the lower portion of the tank'B;

While the passages l5, [8, 2|, 24 and 21 may lead from the chambers a,b, c, d and e at any point they are preferably arranged to lead from oneside of the valve housing as shown in Fig. 1, since such arrangementenables direct connection with the ends of pipes I 7, 23 and ZB arrangedin parallel relation to each other as shown in Fig. 8, and also permitspositioning of the valves between the pipes 20 and 29 arranged inlongitudinal alignment with each other, thus facilitating installationof the valve. By the arrangement of the passages set forth the endportions of the conduits connecting with the valve housing lie on thesame plane.

Arranged in the valve housing A is a valve piston C embodying areciprocal stem 30 on which is mounted a plurality of valve elements111., n, o and 1) arranged to be collectively moved in and out ofcooperative relation with the several valve seats, 9, h, i, :i and 70.Each of the valve elements comprises an elastic ring 3| formed of 4rubber or similar material, which ring is snugly seated in a channel 32extending circumferentially of a spool 33 formed on or carried by thestem 30; the outer portion of the ring being semicircular in crosssection with its periphery adapted to tightly engage the inner perimeterof the valve seat with which it is associated, so that the valve elementwill efiectively cut on" communication between chambers contiguous thevalve seat. By rounding the outer peripherial portions of the sealingrings transversely and rounding the side margins of the valve seats therings move onto the seats with ease and without mutilationof the rings,and passage of the valves through the" seats from one side thereof tothe other wh'e're' required: is facilitated.

flhevalve elements project from the stem 33 to afford spaces between theelements and are so arranged on the stem that when the piston isdisposed in its lowermost position, as illustrated in'Fig s. 1 and 9 andwhich position constitutes the water softening position, the valveelements 111., n and 0 will engage the valve seats 9, i and is while thelower valve-element p will be disposed in the lower chamber f below'andclear of the valve seat is; the valve seats being spaced relative toeach other and arranged relative to the spaced valve elements as toattain the recited relation. The valve seat? is formed of such widthbetween its opposed ends that the valve element 0 may pass therethroughand be moved to its seated position from either end thereof. The seatsg, i and 1' may be-of any desired width, but the seats h and kareelongated so as to cooperate with the valve elements n and o-'-prespectively as guidewa-ys for the valve piston C.

The relative arrangement of the several valve elements and valve, seatsis such as to afford the following relations:

on moving the valve assembly upward from the water softening positionabove recited to the next successive backwashing position shown in Fig.10, the valve m will be advanced into the chamber a, clear of the valveseat 9, valve n will leave thevalve seati andengage the valve seat handvalve, elements 0 and p will each engage the valve seat 14;.

on moving the valve assembly to its next successive combined cut out andopen to wasteposition shown in Fig. 11 the valve m will move furtherinto the chamber a, Valve n will remain in, engagement with the valveseat It, while the valve 0. will engagethe valve seat with the valve. premaining in contact with valve seat is.

On moving the. valve assembly to its next flushing position shown inFig. 12 the valve 122 will advance further into chamber a', valve membern will engage the valve. seat 9, valve 0 will advance into chamber d andthe lower valve p will engage the valve seat 7 As a means for bypassi'ng liquids around the valve seat assembly when the valve assemblyis in its uppermost flushing position shown in Fig. 12 the valve housingis formed with a longitudinally extending passage 34 connecting the endchambers a and f aboveand below the valveseats g and k respectively.Itis desirable that the passage 34 be restricted relative to the intake2|, so as to reduce the volume of flow through such passage 34 relativeto the flow from the intake 2l23 to the waste pipe I! as will be laterdescribed.

To this end the passage 34 maybe reduced in cross sectional.areayrelative to the cross sec-' but it is also preferably equipped withan adjustment which is here shown as comprising. a threaded plug 35mounted in the wall of the passage 34 and adapted to be positioned toprotrude into the passage as shown in Fig.3 to restrict this passageaccording to requirements.

Any suitable means may be provided for effecting reciprocation of thepiston valve C as occasion may require. As here shown an actuator isprovided embodying a screw 36 extending in axial alignment with theupper end of the rod 36] and secured to the latter; the rod 30 slidablyextending through a conventional packing gland 37 in an end wall 38closing the upper end of the valve housing A.

The screw 35 extends from adjacent the wall 38 within a shell 39 carriedby the latter and has threaded engagement with a rotary sleeve 40extending in axial alignment therewith, the lower end of the sleevebeing internally threaded as in dicated at 41 to engage the screw 36.The upper end of the sleeve 3E! is secured to a cap 42 journalled in theouter upper end of the sleeve 39 which cap is fitted with a handle 43 bywhich it may be manually rotated to effect turning of the sleeve lii soas to cause the screw 35 to feed lengthwise in or out of the sleeve andthereby impart longitudinal movement through the the service pipe 28.

screw 35 and the attached valve stem with its associated valve elements;the screw 36 being held against rotation by means of fingers 44 andprotruding from opposite sides of a collar 45 affixed to the stem 30adjacent the lower end of the screw 36 which fingers 44 and 45 slidablyabut opposed parallel margins 41 and 48 formed on the shell 39 andextending longitudinally thereof in parallel relation to the axis of thescrew 36. The outer end of either one or both of the fingers 44 and 45is formed with a pointer 49 which overlies the outer face of the shell39 for cooperation with a series of vertically spaced designated marks1, s, t and u to form an indicator whereby the position of the valveelements relative to the several valve seats may be determined.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the lower line r bears indicia Soft and is sorelated to the arrangement or" the valve elements that when the pointer49 indicates the line r the valve elements will be in their lowermostposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 in which position water is directeddownwardly to the tank B in the treating or water softening operation.The line 5 is designated by the indicia Wash and is so positionedrelative to the valve elements and their associated valve seats thatwhen the valve elements are moved upwardly such distance that thepointer 49 will indicate the line s the parts will be disposed as shownin Fig. 10 so as to reverse the direction of flow of water through thetank B and to waste in effecting a back-wash flushing action on thewater treating elements. The line if is designated by the indicia Saltand is so positioned relative to the valve elements and their associatedvalve seats that when the valve elements are elevated to a positionwhere the pointer 49 indicates the line if the parts will be disposed asshown in Fig. 11 and such as to prevent the flow of water through thetank so that the water confined in the latter will be static and thuspermit the application to the tank of a regenerating substance such assalt employed in reconditioning the treating elements in the tank B. Theuppermost line u is designated by the indicia Rinse and is so related tothe valve elements that when the latter are in their uppermost positionas shown in Fig. 12 the arrow 49 indi cate the line u. When the valveelements are in this position the flow of water will be directeddownwardly through the reservoir and then to waste through therestricted passage 34, chamber a, passage [5, and pipe IT and thenefiect a flushing action.

In the operation of the valve structure the valve elements on beingdisposed in their lowermost position as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 waterwill flow from the main supply pipe 23 into the chamber 2: extendingbetween the valve seats h and i and will then flow through the passageformed by the valve seat h through the chamber b and passage [8 and pipe20 to the upper end of the tank B and downwardly through the watertreating elements in the latter and through the discharge pipe 29 intothe passage 21 into the chamber 6 in the valve housing, then through thespace bounded by the valve seat 7' in the chamber e and passage 24 fromwhich water is directed to suitable points of discharge through Thewater in thus passing downward through the treating elements in the tankwill be subjected to a softening action while the softening element isactive, and accordingly the valve is referred to as being disposed inthe water softening position when the valve elements are in the recitedextreme lowermost position.

When it is desired to flush the tank B which is effected by abackwashing action the valve elements are moved upwardly by rotating thesleeve 50 as by use of the handle 43 so as to cause the screw 3% to moveupwardly in its threaded connection with the sleeve, which movement iscontinued until the pointer d9 designates the line .9 whereupon onarresting movement of the valve elements they will be disposed as shownin Fig. 10 with the valve element 12 positioned above the inlet passage28 of the water supply pipe 23 and in engagement with the valve seat Itand with the upper valve element m disposed above and spaced from thevalve seat g to open communication between the chamber a through thepassage bounded by the valve g to the passage l5 leading to theoverflow, pipe ii. The valve elements 0 and 1) will then be disposed inengagement with the elongated valve seat is immediately below thechamber e and passage 21 opening to the pipe 29. When the parts are thusdisposed in the back washing or second position water will flow in thedirection indicated by the arrows in Fig. 10, namely, from the intakepipe 23, passage 2i, chamber 0, downwardly through the passage boundedby the valve seat 1' into chamber e, passage'2l and pipe 2a to the lowerend of the tank B, then upwardly through the tank and the treatingelement therein and out through the pipe 29 into the passage i8, chamber22 and through the passage bounded by the valve seat 5/ and to dischargeto waste through passage l5 and pipe ll.

When it is desired to prevent the flow of water to and from the tank Bthe valve elements are disposed in the cut-out position shown in Fig. 11by operating the actuator handle 43 until the pointer 49 indicates theline 75. The valve elements n and 0 will then be disposed in sealingengagement with the valve seats h and 7' thereby cutting offcommunication through the tank B while maintaining communication betweenthe water feed pipe 23 and the water supply pipe 26 through the passage21, chamber 0, passage bounded by the valve seat 2', chamber d andpassage 24, as: indicated by-the arrowsin Fig. 11.. In accordancewiththe usual practice in effect: ingregeneration of. the water. treating.element. in the tank 3- a quantity f saltisdelivered to the interior ofthevtank as through an opening. in thetop thereof normally closed. by. aremovable cap 50.

It is necessary. to flush. the resultant brine from the tank which iseffected in the present instance by operating the actuator handle 43-110move the screwwsfi to dispose the pointer. 49v in register withthe lineit where the valve elements will be disposed in. their uppermost orflushing. position'as shown in Fig. 12. The valve element 11. will then.be positioned in engagement with the valve seat 9/ andithe valveelement. 29 willbe in. engagement with the valve seat 1i While the valveelement 0. will be disposed in the chamber d thus opening communicationbetween the water feed and the upper end of the tank and openingcommunication. between the lower end of. the tank through. the pipe 29to the chamber f through the chamber e and the passage bounded by. thevalve seat is to direct water from the tank to discharge through therestricted passage 34,

After the desired flushing action has been effected and it is desired torestore the apparatus to the water treating condition, the valveelements are returned to their normal lowermost position by reversingthe direction of rotation of the handle 43 and the threaded sleeve tomove the screw 36 and its associated parts downwardly to the positionwhere the pointer 29 will indicate the lower line 1*.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the valve is subject to beingdisposed in four objective positions namely, first a water softeningposition, second, a back washing position, third, a cutout and open towaste position and fourth, a flushing position, and that it is operableprogressively from the first to the fourth positions and back so thatwhen applied to the water softener tank B the several steps required inregenerating the softener may be efi-ected by progressive, consecutiveor successive positioning of the valve thus obviating the need ofshifting the valve back and forth to selected positions as com.- monlyrequired in water softener valves heretofore produced involving at leastfour operating positions. The progressive positioning of the valve beingeffected by rectilineal movement through the medium of the actuator Dadmits of the pointer 49 of the valve position indicator being likewisemoveable on a rectilineal path up and down to and from the variouspositions so that the operator may readily determine the-positionof thevalve and with little or no possibility of error.

'In order to prevent sudden impact of hydrostatic pressure on thefiltering and water softening elements in the tank B when initiallydirect- :ing water into the latter through the valve, the valve elementsm and -11. and the seats 9 and i are so arranged relative to the intakepassage :2I and the discharge to waste passage 15 that when the valveelements m and n move upwardly from .the .seatsflg anc i ni' advancingfromth first posit n h w in Fig. am. the e o id p it on; Wnin Fig. 10commun ca ion w lhe ches ed between the intake pas a and he di fiars to.waste. p ssa e 1.15 whi h om iiumic i n w l be maintai d til. the. valvei neii easin is .inthis intermediate os ion etw en i l ei s i and-h.communica ion will be. efieied b w si he intake as a e 21. and. t a a e..8. sa iected. t h p er and Qf. the and a to the service passa e .4. a dt9 he. Passa e .1 con ectin wi h the lQWQ sli oi; the. ta k 3 throughthe pipe 29 which latter communication with the tank willbe afforded. byreason of valve element obeing. in an interm d ate. po ition b lowtheseat; 9'. When the parts ar hus dis.- posedv pressure Will, be.equalised Qll. ODPQQ fi ds. of. the body of water treating material inthe k nd y ostatic pr ssur l b e ieved from the tank by flow: of wa er,t exh ust. through. the waste passage is which condition wi prevail nt lthe valve is ith res ored t9.. first p ition shown in Fi 9 or disposed.in its second position shown in Fig. 10. It will now be seen thatas. thevalve is operated t reverse 12. direction of. flow of. water through thetank hydrostatic pressure will be gradually built upv in either end ofthe tank according tomovement .Oi the valve from the first to the secondposition or from the second to the first position. In like fashion whenthe valve is moved from its cutrout or third position to either theflushing. or fourth position or back to the back wash. .or third. po:sition the intake passage 21, will be momentarily. opened to exhaust orwaste before being. fully open to the tank, since on moving the valveelement n to an inter-mediate position between the seats h and gfrom-the third to the fourth position or ise versa the inlet 2-! Willthen be in communication with the drain or outlet passage l-5 around thevalve element 11, and on'moving the valve from the third position to anintermediate position between the third and the second positionshydrostatic pressure from the intake passage M will initially berelieved from the tank by reason of the valve element 0 being dispos dntermed a e he s at 1' nd so. tha water will flow from the source aroundthe valve 0 through the pipe 2 9, tank B, and pipe 20 to exhaust throughpassage I8, and 15 through the t en pen valve s at' Gradual buildin upof the hydrostatic pressure in the tank in the manner above described ishighly desirable since it avoids Or at least minimizes channeling of.the filtering and water softening elements in the tank as i apt tooccur when high hydrostatic pressure is suddenly imposed thereon, andalso prevents unwanted dis-v urbance 0f the filt r g a s t m e m i ,Animp ortant feature of the invention resides inthe arrangement of thevalve elements andsevral valve s ats wh reby a ,flowo W te way be mintained fr the fee 12110 2 to h s rvice line 26 irrespective of anyposition assumed by the valveelements incontrolling the flow of waterthrough the tank, ,thus obviating interruption of water .serviceduringthe regeneration period. While I have shown and described a specificembodiment of my invention I do not limit my,- self to the exact detailspf, construction set forth, and the, nvention embraces such changes,,modifloations and equivalents of ,theparts and their formation andarrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

This application relates to the subject matter of my previousapplication Serial Number 589,919, filed April 23, 1945 and is acontinuation thereof at least in part.

I claim:

1. In a valve for a water softener tank, a housing having a bore, aseries of spaced axially aligned inwardly projecting annular valve seatsin said bore, said bore embodying chambers between contiguous valveseats and at the end portions of said bore, a fluid passage leading tothe exterior of the housing from each of the chambers located betweenthe valve seats including a' passage for communication with one end of asoftener tank, a passage for communication with the other end of asoftener tank, a water supply passage and a water service passage; saidhousing also having a waste passage leading from I one of said endchambers and having a'by-pass passage connecting said end chambers; avalvestem extendin axially of the bore, mean for reciprocating saidstem, and a plurality of 'spaced elastic ring valves carried on saidstem arranged for sealing engagement with certain of said valve seatsand for positioning in certain of said chambers; said ring valves beingproportioned relative to said chambers to afford a passage around avalve when positioned in a chamber; said assembly of ring valvesincluding an end ring valve for positioning between the end chambercommunicating directly with the waste passage and the adjacent chamber,another end valve for engagement with the valve seat between the otherend chamber and its adjacent chamber, a ring valve for engagement withthe valve seat between the chambers connecting with the water supplypassage and the water service passage, and a ring valve for engagementwith the valve seat between the end passage with which the by-passpassage connects and the contiguous chamber and also for engagement withthe valve seat between said last named chamber and the chamberconnecting with the water service passage.

2. In a valve for a water softener tank, a housing having a bore, aseries of spaced circumferentially extending inwardly projecting valveseats in said bore, said bore embodying a chamber between each of. thecontiguous valve seats and an end chamber at each end of the series ofvalve seats, a fluid passage leading to the exterior of the housing fromeach of the chambers located between the valve seats including a passagefor communication with the upper end of a softener tank, a passage forcommunication with the lower end of a softener tank and a pair ofintermediate passages constituting a water supply passage and a waterservice passage; said housing also having a waste passage leading fromone of said end chambers and having a by-pass passage connecting saidend chambers; a longitudinally reciprocable valve stem extending axiallyof said bore, means for reciprocating said stem, and an assembly of aplurality of spaced valve elements carried on said stem arranged forsealing engagement with certain of said valve seats and for positioningin certain of said chambers; said valve elements being proportionedrelative to said chambers to afford a passage around a valve elementWhen positioned in a chamber; said valve assembly when in one of itsextreme positions interconnecting the water supply passage to thepassage for communication with the upper endof a tank andinterconnecting the passage for communicating with the lower end of atank with the water service passage, and being moveable to a secondprogressive position and there interconnecting the water supply passage,the passage for communicating with the lower end of a tank and at thesame time interconnect the passage for communicating with the upper endof a tank and the waste passage, and being moveable to a thirdprogressive position and there interconnecting the water supply passageand the service passage, and interconnecting the passage forcommunicating with the upper end of a tank and the waste passage, andbeing moveable to a fourth progressive position and thereinterconnecting the water supply passage, and the passage forcommunicating with the upper end of a tank and interconnecting thepassage for communicating with the lower end of a tank, the by-passpassage and the waste passage.

3. In a valve for a water softener tank, a housing having a bore, aseries of spaced circumferentially extending inwardly projecting valveseats in said bore, said bore embodying a chamber between each of thecontiguous valve seats and an end chamber at each end of the series ofvalve seats, a fluid passage leading to the exterior of the housing fromeach of the chambers located between the valve seats including a passagefor communication with the upper end of a softener tank, a passage forcommunication with the lower end of a softener tank and a pair ofintermediate passages constituting a water supply passage and a waterservice passage; said housing also having a waste passage leading fromone of said end chambers and having a by-pass passage connecting saidend chambers; a longitudinally reciprocable, valve stem extendingaxially of said bore, means for reciprocating said stem, and an assemblyof a plurality of spaced valve elements carried on said stem arrangedfor sealing engagement with certain of said valve seats and forpositioning in certain of said chambers; said valve elements beingproportioned relative to said chambers to afford a passage around avalve element when positioned in a chamber; said valve assembly when inone of its extreme positions interconnecting the water supply passage tothe passage for communication with the upper end of a tank andinterconnecting the passage for communicating with the lower end of atank with the water service passage, and being moveable to a secondprogressive position and there interconnecting the water supply passage,the service passage and the passage for communicating with the lower endof a tank and at the same time interconnect the passage forcommunicating with the upper end of a tank and the waste passaga'andbeing moveable to a third progressive position and there interconnectingthe water supply passage and the service passage, and interconnectingthe passage for communicating with the with means for indicatingexteriorly-of the valve the several operative positions of the valve as-I sembly.

6. The structure called ior in claim 2, together -with means forindicating exteriorly of the valve ing having a bore, a series of spacedcircumferentially extending inwardly projecting valve seats in saidbore, said bore embodying a chamber between each of the contiguous valveseats and an end .chamber at each end of the series of valve seats, afluid passage leading to the exterior of thehousingirom each of thechambers located between the valve seats including a passage for Vcommunication-with the upper end of a softener tank, a passage forcommunication with the lower end of a softener'tank and apair ofintermediate passages constituting a water supply passage and a waterservice passage; said housing. also havinga waste passage leading fromone of said end chambers and having a'by-passpassage connecting said endchambers; a longitudinally reoiprocable valve stem extending axially ofsaid bore, means for reciprocatingsaid stem, and an assemblyhofaplurality of spaced valve elements carried on said stem arranged forsealing engagement with certain .of said valve seats and for positioningin certain .of said chambers said valve elements being proportionedrelative to said chambers to afiord a passage around a valve elementwhen positioned in a chamber; said valve assembly when in one positionestablishinglcommunication from the water supply passage and the passagefor communication with the upper end of a tank and between the passagefor communication with lower .end of the tank and the water servicepassage, and in a second position establishing communicationbetween thewater supply passage, the water service passageand the passage forcommunication with the lower end of atank and between thepassage forcommunication with upper end of a tank and the waste passage; the, saidassembly when in a third positionmaintaining communication between thewater supply passage and the water service passage and closingcommunication between said passages and the passages forcommunicationwith the ends of a tank; and said assembly when in a fourth 12 I,tudinally reciprocal valve'stem extending axially of said bore,means-for reciprocating said stem,

and an-assembly of a plurality of spaced valve elements carriedon-saidstem arranged for sealing engagement with certain of said valve seatsand for positioning in certain of said chambers; said valve elementsbeing proportioned relative to said chambers to afiord apassage around avalve element when positioned in a chamber; said valve assembly in oneposition establishingcommunicationbetween the water supply passage andthe passage communication with the :upper end of :the tank and alsoestablishing communication between the water service passage and thepassage for communication with the other end of the tank, and when insaid positionclosingcommunication between the water supply passage andthe water service passage and between the water'supply passage and'tthewaste passage and between the water service passage and'the by-passpassage; said valve assembly in another :position establishingcommunication betweenthe water supply passage and the water servicepassage and betweenthe watersupply passage and the passage forcommunication with the lower end of the tank and establishingcommunication between thezpassage'for communication withthe upper end ofthetankand the waste passage, and when insuch position closlingcommunication between the water's-upply'passage and the passage forcommunication with the upper end :of the-tank and closing communicationbetween the passage for communication with the other end of the tank andthe by-pass passage; :said valve assembly when in a third po sitionmaintaining communications between the water supply passage and thewater service passage and closing communication between the watersupply'passage and the water service passage with the passages forcommunication with theends of the tank; and said valve assembly when: ina fourth position maintaining communication between the watersupplypassage and the water service passage and establishing communicationbetween the water service and the 'passage for communication with theupper position maintaining communication between the water supplypassage and the water service pas-' terior of the housing from each ofthe chambers located between the valve seats including a passage forcommunicating-with the upper end of a softener tank, a passage forcommunicating with the lower end of a softener tank, and a pair ofintermediate passages constituting a water supply passage and a waterservice passage; said housing also having a waste passage leading fromone of said end chambers and having a by-pass passage connecting saidend chambers; a 101131.

end of the tank and establishing communication between the passage 'forcommunication with the lower endof thetank and thebypass passage, and insaid fourth position closing communication betweenthe passage forcommunication with the upper end of the tank and the chambercommunicatingdirectly with the waste passage, and also closingcommunication between the water service passage and the passage forcommunication with the lower end of the tank andto the by-passpassage.

9. In a valve, a housing having a bore formed with a series of chambersincluding apair of end drain chambers and intermediate chambers, anannular valve seat separating'each of the adjacent chambers, said-housing being formed with lateral passages leading from theintermediate chambers and having a lateral open drain passage leadingfrom one of the end chambers, -a pipe leading through said drain passageand connecting with the passage leadingfrom the chamber adjacent the enddrain chamber fitted'with said drain passage, a 'by-pass passage in saidhousing connecting said end drain'chambers, and aseries of connectedvalve elements in said bore cooperable with said seats, and means foractu-' ating said valve elements to open-and close adjacent'chambersrelative to each other.

'10, A water softening valve comprising a housing having a chamber ateach end thereof and formed with a by-pass passage connecting saidchambers, forming an open communication therebetween at all times, anopen waste passage leading from one of said end chambers, a series offour chambers interposed between said end chambers including a pair ofchambers comprising an inlet and an outlet chamber and chambersintermediate said pair of chambers and the end chambers, a passageleading from each of said intermediate chambers to the exterior of saidhousing, an inlet passage leading to said inlet chamber, an outletpassage leading from said outlet chamber, an annular valve seat betweeneach of adjacent chambers, a reciprocal valve stem extending axially ofsaid valve seats, and a valve assembly on said stem comprising aplurality of spaced elastic valves fixed on said stem and arranged forcooperation with said seats; said seats and valves being relativelyarranged to dispose a valve on each end seat and on a seat between theintake and outlet chambers to close the end chambers to the chambersinterposed therebetween and to close communication between the inlet andoutlet chambers when the valve assembly is in a first or one of itsextreme positions; and when said valve assembly is in a successivesecond position to dispose the valve previously on the seat between theend chamber from which leads the waste passage to open said chamber toits adjacent intermediate chamber, and then dispose the valve previouslyon the seat between the intake and outlet chambers on a seat between theintake chamber and the adjacent intermediate chamber, and also maintaina valve on the seat between the other intermediate chamber and theadjacent end chamber and providing open direct communication between theinlet and outlet chamber and between the outer chamber and the adjacentintermediate chamber; and when said valve assembly is in a thirdconsecutive position to dispose a valve on a seat between the intakechamber and the adjacent intermediate chamber, and another valve on theseat between the outlet chamber and the adjacent intermediate chamber,and with another valve on the seat between said last named intermediatechamber and its adjacent end chamber, and then providing opencommunication with the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber, and opencommunication between the end chamber from which the waste passage leadswith its adjacent intermediate chamber; and when said valve assembly isin a successive fourth position to dispose a valve on the seat betweenthe end chamber from which the waste passage leads and the adjacentintermediate chamber, with another valve positioned on the seat betweenthe outlet chamber and its adjacent chamber, and then providing opencommunication between said last named intermediate chamber and theadjacent end chamber through said end chamber and the by-pass passage tothe waste passage through the other end chamber, and at the same timemaintain open communication between the intake chamber and the outletchamber, and provide open communication between the outlet chamber andthe adjacent intermediate chamber.

11. The structure called for in claim 10 together with means forreciprocating said valve stem and means associated therewith forindicating the several recited positions of the valve assembly.

EUGENE P. JORDAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the,

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 331,789 Harvey Dec. 8, 1885789,026 Huston May 2, 1905 1,123,273 Gregersen Jan. 5, 1915 1,220,979Gregory Mar. 27, 1917 1,391,676 Finley Sept. 27, 1921 1,540,962 StuartJune 9, 1925 1,620,717 Brice et a1 Mar. 15, 1927 1,652,710 DotterweichDec. 13, 1927 1,659,023 Friend et a1. 1 Feb. 14, 1928 1,707,692 TerBeest Apr. 2, 1929 1,751,061 Ter Beest Mar. 18, 1930 1,878,019 StickneySept. 20, 1932 1,954,405 Dotterweich Apr. 10, 1934 2,042,186 PetersonMay 26, 1936 2,137,406 Johnson Nov. 22, 1938 2,414,451 Christensen Jan.21, 1947

